Radical Cleric Abu Qatada Sent Back to UK Jail

Radical preacher Abu Qatada, often referred to as Osama bin Laden's point man in Europe, was sent back to jail by a British judge after being arrested for alleged breach of bail conditions.

LONDON: Radical preacher Abu Qatada, often referred to as Osama bin Laden's point man in Europe, was sent back to jail by a British judge after being arrested for alleged breach of bail conditions.

"The appellant's bail is revoked forthwith, and he is ordered to be detained," judge Stephen Irwin said in an order, adding that Qatada would be detained at the high-security Belmarsh prison in southeast London.

Another bail hearing will take place on March 21, the judge said.

52-year-old Qatada had been rearrested at his home in north London by officials from the UK Border Agency on Friday.

The arrest came two days ahead of a latest government bid to have Qatada deported to Jordan, where he was convicted in absentia over terror plots in 1999 and 2000.

The decision was made during an urgent Special Immigration Appeals Commission (SIAC) meeting by phone yesterday.

SIAC heard that he may have had prohibited communications equipment at his London home while he was present.

He is alleged to have used, or switched on, mobile phones at his house and or to have allowed rewritable CDs or memory sticks to be brought there, according to court papers.

The UK government has been locked in a court battle to deport the Islamic cleric.

He was due to appear at the Court of Appeal here tomorrow as part of efforts by Home Secretary Theresa May to overturn a judge's decision to allow him to stay in Britain.

The UK Border Agency (UKBA) yesterday arrested Qatada following raids by the Metropolitan police counter-terrorism unit. Officers searched two homes and a search of a third property was ongoing.

In November last year, the SIAC had ruled that he could not lawfully be deported to Jordan, where he was convicted of terrorism charges in his absence in 1999. The judges ruled there was a danger that evidence obtained by torture could be used against him in a retrial in Jordan.

He was granted bail following the ruling, released from Long Lartin prison and returned to his family home in London, under 24-hour watch.

Qatada's strict bail conditions included only being allowed out of his house between 08:00 and 16:00, having to wear an electronic tag, and being restricted in who he meets.